Initiating a program aimed at enhancing productivity and market access, the Ekiti State Government will soon distribute subsidized polyclonal cashew seedlings to cashew farmers across the state.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti, Commissioner for Agriculture Ebenezer Boluwade disclosed that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is supporting this initiative to improve cashew trade by enhancing harvest and post-harvest techniques and strengthening supply chain connections between farmers and program companies under the PRO-Cashew USDA-funded development program, spanning a five-year period.
Commencing in 2020, the PRO-Cashew project aims to assist cashew farmers in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria to boost productivity and market access. Boluwade noted that Ekiti State has taken a pioneering step in Nigeria by establishing a polyclonal cashew and scion garden in Erifun, Ado Ekiti, in June 2023.
Highlighting the administration’s dedication to ensuring sustainable polyclonal cashew seedling production in the state post the USDA intervention, Boluwade stressed the objective of leveraging research and development to position Ekiti as one of the leading cashew-producing states in the coming years.
Emphasizing that polyclonal seedlings exhibit faster maturation and greater resilience compared to seed-propagated seedlings, Boluwade assured that the state government will provide a 50% subsidy for the seedlings to incentivize and empower local farmers.
Interested farmers are encouraged to reach out to the Tree Crops Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to participate in the program. Beneficiaries must own farms within Ekiti State and furnish reliable farm details for post-sales services to achieve set objectives.